Method and apparatus for mining coal



May 7, 1929. 1. 1 scHlcK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed July 11. 1921 e shams-sheet METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed July 11. 1921 ssheets-sheet 2 May 7, 1929. J. 1 scHlcK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July ll. 1921 May 7, 1929. J. l.. scHlcK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed July 11. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 7, 1929. '4 1 L SCi-"CK 1,712,471

' METHOD AND' APPARATUS ROR rrfaAIJNING COAL Filed July 11,'1'92'1- e sh'eexs-sheet 5 May 7, l1929. J. L, SH.K 1,112,471

. METI'OD AND APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Patented May 7, 1929. y

UNITED s'ra'rlszsN .TOI-IN L. SCHICK, OF CONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS IiOIR` MINING COAL.

apiiiicaeon inea .my 11, 1921. sei-iai No. 483763.

. `This inventionis 'Por an improved meth` od ot and apparatus 'tor mining coal, and relates particularly toan imlln'oved automatic conveying system for transporting the coal in certain parts ot the mine.

ln the s, stem of mining coal known in the art as the room and pillar system, a main entry is first dug into a seam ot coal. Branching out from the entry at points about tive or six hundredfeet apart, are bindings which are at right angles to the entry. Vliranching out from the headings at right angles thereto and parallel to the `main entry are rooms. These rooms extend in only one direction, and are dug to a depth which leaves only a relatively thin Wall of coal between the end of the rooms andthe nest heading. The rooms are usually about twenty t'eet wide and about live hundred feet deep, and are titty to sixtyfteet apart. Each room is connected with the next adjacent rooms by' passages which are parallel With the heading. The headings may be several hundred teet long, andtheretore a large rmmbcr of rooms may branch off from a sinthe rooms brancl'iended alill pist be fil/omc ol: p a heading will be linut, while others w glo hauling. ing out 'trom most to their sta rted.

flraclrs are laid in the main entry and in the headings Afor mine cars. The mine ears are hauled to and from the entrance. lo the rooms by mine locomotives, or by other suitable means. the lrooms the rooms advance in length, the track being single. From the entrance to the rooms, the cars are `pushed into the rooms, one or tivo at a time by the miners. The distance `they have to Walk pushing a sii'igle car increases as the depth or length of the room increases. 11Where a loading machine is used in the rooms, considerable time is lost in bringing up ancmpty car, loading it, remoif'ing the full car, and getting the next car into position. y

ln Working the mine, a cutting machine gees through the rooms at night, making a cnt to a depth of about six feet. After making a cut in one room, it is propelled to the nei-.t one. The cutting machine, if it do a not Cpull the coal down, is followed h v minors (who, blast or shoot7 the coal down, this also generally being done at night. y

therethrough 5 The iellowing day the loose coal is load ed. either byrhand or by loading machines. rilhe v-:orlr` et the loading machines is imped- Traclrs are also laid in y ed by the length` of time required in getting carsto and from it, and therefore much ol the advantage ot' such machines is lost. When the rooms have been dug to the limit of their length, and the cross passaves parallel With the headings are cut, these eing cut progressively as the room lengthens, much et the coal Will have been taken out, but there Will still remain the blocks between paralleli-ooms and passages. As the rooms are dug, the posts and supporting structures are' put in. The coal in the blocks .is next removed by digging out the blocks :furthest from the heading, pulling the posts and allowing theV roof to fall. A retreat is thus gradually effected, and substantially all of the coal is removed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic conveyor loi-med ot' sections, which may be used to convey the coal` from the loading machine or point ot loading to the headings, the conveyors being extended as the length of the room increases and shortened asthe retreat effected, and which conveyors may also preferably be arranged to extend around corners. y

A `further important object of my invention is to` provide aspecial loader, pan ticularly adapted .tor use in connection with the auton'iatic conveyor to eliminate one dumping ot the coal which is necessary when otherloaders are used.

n. still vFurther object is to providea` combined conveyor carrying structure and mine supporting structure to eliminate some of the timber which is otherwise f necessary, and render the mine more safe.

These and other objects are attained by 9 appliance used on the conveyor Fig.` 6 a transverse vertical section `Figz .7 is a perspective view showing a conveyor bucket trolley rail and Joint;

Fig;18 is a sidey view on a large scale ofv my improved form of loader;

Fig. 9 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section through the loader;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of aspecial form ofV trolley` track section for` transferring buckets from the conveyor trolley track to a Vtrack yabove the loader;

`VAF ig. 12 is aside elevation thereof; `Fig. 13 is a section .onV line XIH-X11I of vFig.-11.V f

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings which shows a plan view of a portion of a mine, A; isja heading which leads to an entry (not shown). 1 B B'2 and B5 represent three dif- ;fe'rent rooms, of whichA there are a large number'. The room B3 has been shown as 'being less far advanced than the other two roomsf() indicates the parallel cross passages connecting the rooms, and D are solid blocks of coal which are not removed until I, the rooms have been extended to their' limit.

Extending from the heading longitudinally ofeach room are sectional conveyors E. F indicates mine carson tracks in the heading, and G is a loader at the front or loading yterminal Y of the conveyor.

The conveyors V4E are yof the' traveling bucket type, it having heretofore been proposedto use sectional belt conveyors in other l'systems of lmining than the room and pillar charging vterminal section is provided at the V,mouth'ofi the Yroom.` Itcomprises vertical posts '5 havingscrew-jacks 6 at the base thereof and'having caps 7 at their tops.

There are preferably tw'o such posts in the Y discharging .terminal section, and they are connected suitable framework at 8. Each of the posts carries transverse cross arms 9.,". At the sides of the unloading terminal arepa'rallel rail sections 1() ysupported on the arms 9, and they are connected at one end by 'a curved track section 11. Jour- Analled inthe framework connecting the two posts a vertical shaft 12 driven in any suitableway, vsuch as by wormV gearing, as

e shown, by a motor 13. The upper end of `the shaft 12 carries a large'sprocket or Vsheave wheel 14,`the diameter of which is somewhat less than the distance between the "-s'idetrack 4sections 10. The wheel is also i spacedv some distance back from the curved v'rail `1.1.

The 'loading terminal section of the conveyor is very similar to the discharge sec tion.' 1t is formed of two posts 5 similar to posts 5. The posts are connected by frame members 15, and a sheave or sprocket wheel 16 is supported therein, the sprocket wheel, however, not being driven by a motor, as the wheel 14 is. Parallel side track sections 17 are carried by cross trees on the post, and correspond to track sections 10. A curved track connecting the ends may be provided where a usual form of coal loader' is employed, but I prefer that this be omitted when my special loader, hereinafter described, is employed. Such a curved end section is indicated at 17 in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Interposed between the loading and unloading sect'ions are as many additional posts 5 :is are necessary, these posts also preferably corresponding to posts 5 and having cross trees 18 thereon. One of the posts is-shown in detail in Fig. 3. These posts are preferably placed apart at six foot intervals. They are designed to support parallel trolley track sections 19. The track sections are preferably formed of angle iron of suflicient strength, and they are adapted to be connected with each other or with the similar tracks 10 and 17 on the terminals inany suitable way, such as shown in Fig. 7, wherein an angle shaped connecting section 2() is used. The track sections 19 yare preferably about six feet in length, but this can be varied to suit different conditions. They may be curved where necessary, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Passing over the sheaves or rockets 1l Vand 16 is an endless sectional cab e 22. The

cable is formed of sections preferably slightly more than twelve feet long, and theI ends of the sections are connected by any suitable clamps 23, such as that shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These clamps are in the form of a divided sphere having rope receiving recesses therein and held together by bolts. l Movable on the trolley tracks are trolleys 24 from which depend hangers 25 having hooks 26 at their lower ends. Buckets 27 are suspended from these hangers by trunnions 28 which engage in the hooks 26. At 28 is a spring catch or other suitable means for normally preventingthe buckets from swinging. On each bucket is a projecting yoke or bifurcated plate 29. This is adapted to receive the cable 22, and the clamps 23 are 4designed to move the buckets by contact with said plates 29.

. Assuming that a curved track section 17 is used, the operation and lnethod of using my invention is as follows. After the room Ahas been mined to a suicient length, the

discharge terminal and the loading terminal are secured in lace by means of the combined posts and) jack 5 and 5', the loading terminal being spaced only a short distance lill back of the inner end of the room. Posts :L are set up, and the track sections 19 are joined until a continuous track is formed. rllhe cable 22 is also connected up and placed around sheaves 14 and 1G. The motor 13, turningshaft 12, revolves the wheel 14 and this transmits mot-ion to the endless cable. 'lhe trucks 2l with buckets suspended therefrom are placed on the tracks, and the clamps 23, contracting' with members 29, move the buckets. A

On the curved tracks 11 and 17Em the buckets are out ofthe path of travelof the cable, and hence can remain stationary. Coal may be shoveled in the stationary buckets at the loading terminal by hand, -or the buckets can be loaded by a loading ma chine. After being filled, the trucks or trolleys 24 are pushed around on to the straight track sect-ions 17, where the cable will more them down to the discharge end where the trolleys, on track 1l, are out of engagement with the cable. There the buckets may be dumped into mine cars F.

@lamp nieinbers 23 can be secured to the cable 22 at other places than at the joining` of the rope sections, in order to provide additional bucket engaging means. i

After the loose coal is loaded, the cutting` machine moves in to make a cut of about six feet. This coal is pulled or shot down, and the leading terminal is disconnected .from the last section of track`19 and the cable is disconnected at one joint. The whole terniinal section moved forward six feet, and a new post if set. .hen additional track sections 19 are inserted at each side, connecting' the terminal sections of track 17 with those sections of track already in place. iin additional section of cable 22 and another clamp 23 is added, and the operation of loadcoal may be resumed. Thus, after each cut, the conveyor may be quickly and easily extended. i

The posts 5"L serve to assist in supporting the roof, eliinitiating;l some of the timberinu which would otherwise be necessary. Suflicient buckets can be provided so that the operation of loading' can be carried on colutinuously until the loose coal in the room is all loaded.. After loading of the loose coal, 'the miners can go to the next room, which is siniilarly provided with conveyors, while new timber is put in the next cut made, and shot down, and theconveyor extended. rl`hus, the various operations may be carried on i-successively in different rooms. It is estimated that three cuts can be made in each room with my system in a working day,

`wherein; it now requires three days for loadinfr the same amount of coal. c

in order to eliminate the dumping' of the coal from a loading machine into thc buckets, and in order to facilitate loading the coal in a ,system of this kind, I have devised an improved loader G, which is prei erably used in connection with the conveyor. When the loader G is used, the curved end section 17"L on the receiving or loading terminal is dispensed with.

The loader is shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. It comprises a body member supported on a tractor or other propelling ineai'isBG. Rotatably supported on the body is a revolving, table 37 pivoted at 38 and supported on anti-friction means 39. 0n the body 35 is an annular rack 40, and at l11 is a pinion engaging the rack. The pinion is carried on a shaft 42 journaled in the table 37 and is driven through suitable gearing, such as worin gearing 43, by motor fifi. The table 37 may thus be revolved by the motor all.

On the table 37 are supports l15 which carry a trolley track 50. A portion of the track is concentric with the center of rotation of the table 37, while a portion of it is elongated, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Slidable in a guideway 51 on the table 37 is a ram or pusher bar having` raclf; teeth thereon at 53 adapted to be engaged by a motor driven pinion 541 carried on shaft 55 journaled in suitable means on `the table. vShaft 55 is driven `in a suitable manner by a reversible motor 56, such as through worin `iniziringz; 57. Carried on the outer end 52 of the recipe rocable bar 52 are two spaced apart side plates 58 and at 5S) are journalsI for a transverse shaft 60. In each of the side plates 58 is a shortvertical slot 58a and a curved slot 58b which has a vertically einendini;` part 58"l parallel with the vertical slots 58a.Y

Fixed to the shaft 60 is a toothed segment 61. Carried onthe reciprocable bur is i reversible motor G2 for driving,` worm gear 68, which meshes With the teeth on segment (il. Also keyed to shaft 60 is an arm (ist havini;- its outer end pivoted at to a block 6G slidably carried in a guideway 6701i a bucket receiving frame 68. The bucket receiving frame 68 has sides G9 and 70, side 7() being in the form of a scoop and being ibo-extensivo with the height of the conveyor buckets 27. The frame 68 has a. stud Flat each side thereof which is tquided in slots IWL-58C. Also carried on the bucket holding vframe at 72 is a stud 72. The studs 72 engage in the vertical slots 58a. y

By driving the motor 62 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. S, the frame 68 may be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position through the movement of arm G4, the axis of stud shafts 72 ,beingy the axis of rotation of the bucket frame. llpon further movement of arm Gli, the bucket frame 68 is raised vertically without swinging, studs 71 and 72 then being` in substan tially the same horizontal plane. By reason of the sliding;r pivoted connection provided between the frame 68 and the arm 64.-, the

lll() Cir . arm 64 isenabled to move in an are and effeet the lifting -movement of the frame 68 vertically.-

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13, there is shown a A track section by means of which the buckets with their trolleys maybe transferred from the track'section 17 `of the loading terminal .conveyor section` to track on the loader,

and which is arranged to permit of the loader being moved longitudinally of tracks l17,'sand enables the table 37 to be turned so that'the bucket receiving'frame 68 can be track sections 75 have rounded ends 77V which are in the shape of saddles that engage the'vertical flange of rail 50. The ends of the rails are tapered or inclined, as indicated at 75 Ain Fig. 12.

From theforegoing, it may be seen that the vtrolleys'24 from which the buckets 27 are suspended, can be moved along one of the tracks 17, onto one of the track sections 75, and thence on tothe curved track 50' oa the loader, and from the loader track 50, they can be moved over the other of rails 75 on to the other of the parallel rails 17. The connecting tracks .75V allow the loader to move forwardly or rearwardly, and permit the track 50 to turn with the table 37. In operation, the buckets are moved by hand on to the track 50 of the loader in the manner just described, and positioned over the frame 68, the reciprocable frame or bar 52 then being in retracted position. After a bucket has been properly positioned, motor y' 62 is operated, swinging the frame 68 until the side 7()l is vertical. VThen the frame 68 .moves `verticallyas hereinbefore described.

" then operated to drive the bar 52 forward,

moving the bucket along the ground into the ylooseV coal. VThe bucket scoops up the coal,

and Wheniit is loaded, motor 62 is again operated toraise theframe 68 before the extended Ybar 52 is retracted. ASo swinging the. bucket toa vertical position completes the loading of the bucket and turns it to such position that the coal will not lose out.

Then the frame 68 is lowered Then bar 52 is retracted until the trunnions 28 on the bucket again contact with hooks 26 on the trolley.

The frame 68 can then be lowered, but the trunnions on the bucket will engage the hooks and be suspended from the trolley. The bucket with the trolley may then be pushed around on to the track 17 on the conveyor, where the member 23 on rope 22 will engage it and move it to the discharging terminal. At the same time, another bucket may be similarly moved around into position over the bucket receiving scoop and filled. It is contemplated that a suflicient number of trolleys and buckets be provided in each room to enable the operation to be carried on without any delay by waiting for buckets.

By having the track 50 move with the table 37, the buckets can be lowered into the frame 68 at any position or angle at which it may be turned, the elongated portion ofi the track always remaining over the bar 52.

The loader can be moved from one room to another, so that a single loader may be used for working several rooms, which can be provided with my conveyor. Thus, after the loose coal has been loaded from one room, the loader may be moved to the next, while au additional conveyor section is added in the room where the coul has 'ust been loaded, and other coal may be pu led down.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the construction of the conveyor and the loader, and the loader can be used in connection with or separately from the conveyor. It may be noted that where a system of this kind is employed, the rooms may be dug much longer than heretofore because no delay is encountered in bringing cars up through the rooms. The headings may consequently be placed further apart. and ironscquently there need be fewer of them.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a conveyor having .removable buckets, of a loading machine having means thereon for receiving the buckets. 2. The combination with a conveyor having movable buckets, of a loading machine having a bucket receiving scoop thereon, said scoop being arranged to receive the buckets from a track and to return them to position to be returned to the track.

3. The combination with a conveyor having trolley tracks thereon, trolleys on the track, buckets carried by the trolleys. of a loading machine comprising u body having tracks thereon, means for transferring the buckets from the conveyor tracks to the tracks on the loader and from the loader lo the conveyor, and means on the loader for filling the buckets.

4. The combination with a conveyorl having trolley tracks thereon, trolleys on the track, buckets carried by the trolleys, of a loading machine comprising a body having tracks thereon, means for transferring buckets to and from the conveyor tracks and loader supported tracks, and a reciprocable bucket receiving scoop on the loader adapted to receive the buckets from the tracks on the may be moved from and Vto the conveyortracks and loader supported tracks While permitting the table to be rotated to ditlerent positions, a reciprocable bucket receiving scoop carried by the rotatable table andarranged to receive the buckets from the trolleys, fill them, and return them to the trolleys.

G. The combination with a conveyor having trolley tracks thereon, trolleys on the tracks, buckets removably suspended from the trolleys,iof a loading machine having a body on Which is a rotatable table, tracks supported by the table and movable therewith, tracks having a slidable engagement with the tracks on the rotatable table, and

slidably connecting With the tracks on the conveyor, the arrangement being such that the trolleys may be moved trom and to the conveyor tracks and loader supported tracks while permitting the table to be rotated to diilerent positions and permitting the loader to be moved longitudinally relatively to the conveyor, a reciprocable bucket receiving scoop carried by the rotatable table and arranged to receive the buckets from the trolleys, ll them, and return them to the trolleys. i

7. The combination With a conveyor having buckets thereon, ot a loader having a reciprocabli scoop thereon, Vinea-ns whereby the scoop may be turned in different directions, means for positioning the buckets in` the conveyor over the scoop, said recipro- 'aole scoop having a bucket receiving trame adapted vto raving on a horizontal axis, the

arrangement enabling the bucket to be re-v ceived thereiinswung to a horizontal position, pushed. into the material to be loaded by the reciprocation ot the scoop, turned again to vertical position, and restored to the track, means tor operating the bucket receiving trame, and means for erlecting the reciprocation ot the scoop.

8. The combination with a conveyor having buckets thereon, ot a loader' having a reciprocable scoop thereon, means whereby the scoop may be turned in diHerent directions, means 'tor positioning` the buckets on the conveyor overI the scoop, said reciprocable means having a bucket receiving trame adapted to swingen a horizontal axis, and be movable vertici-illy, this arrangement enabling the bucket receiving frame to be swung to a vertical position, raised to receive a bucket, lowered, swung to a horizontal position, pushed into the material to be loaded by the reciprocation ot the scoop to till the bucket, and enabling the frame to be again swung to vertical position, raised i and returned tothe track, means for operating the bucket receiving trame, and means for effecting its reciprocation.

In testimony whereof l aliix my signature.

' JOHN L. SCI-HUK. 

